EP1120721A2 - Informationswiederauffindungssystem - Google Patents

Informationswiederauffindungssystem Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1120721A2
EP1120721A2 EP01300249A EP01300249A EP1120721A2 EP 1120721 A2 EP1120721 A2 EP 1120721A2 EP 01300249 A EP01300249 A EP 01300249A EP 01300249 A EP01300249 A EP 01300249A EP 1120721 A2 EP1120721 A2 EP 1120721A2
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
information
user preference
data
preference data
value
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP01300249A
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English (en)
French (fr)
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EP1120721A3 (de
Inventor
John Turner
Daniel Brown
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Applied Psychology Research Ltd
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Applied Psychology Research Ltd
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Publication date
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Publication of EP1120721A2 publication Critical patent/EP1120721A2/de
Publication of EP1120721A3 publication Critical patent/EP1120721A3/de
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F16/00—Information retrieval; Database structures therefor; File system structures therefor
    • G06F16/90—Details of database functions independent of the retrieved data types
    • G06F16/903—Querying
    • G06F16/9032—Query formulation
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F16/00—Information retrieval; Database structures therefor; File system structures therefor
    • G06F16/90—Details of database functions independent of the retrieved data types
    • G06F16/907—Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually

Definitions

  • the present invention generally relates to the retrieval of stored information and more particularly relates to the retrieval of stored information which is the closest match to a query.
  • a known method of making a selection of stored information is to place different types of information in different categories and subcategories. Using such a classification technique information can be present or not present in a category. This enables a user to reduce the amount of information which must be reviewed prior to making a selection. However, in order to retrieve information, a user must ensure that his categories correspond identically with the categories into which information has been classified. If a user's categories are over-specific, no information may be retrieved at all.
  • an apparatus and method in which a user is able to retrieve information which best matches user preferences which subjectively define the required information.
  • an apparatus and method for searching for and retrieving information using values which express numerically human perception of the information or something described by the information are provided.
  • an apparatus for retrieving information comprising:
  • a method of retrieving information from a database comprising a plurality of records, each record comprising information and associated classification data, said classification data including at least one value, each value comprising a predetermined subjective rating for the associated information in a category, the method comprising the steps of:
  • the present invention allows a user to retrieve information which has previously been given subjective ratings in a number of categories, simply by entering desired subjective values for one or more selected categories. The entered subjective values are then matched with subjective values for the or each category for which values have been entered and information can be retrieved based on this matching.
  • the categories and subjective ratings for each category are based on human experience of the information itself or on something which is described or summarised by the stored information.
  • the information can comprise, can describe, or can summarise anything about which someone can have an opinion.
  • Categories are chosen based on human experience e.g. the sort of opinions that one might have of the information or the subject of the information, and the information itself i.e. the content of the information and the format of the information.
  • the categories are chosen so that they define a range or continuum between two descriptive extremes which are perceived as emotionally opposite although they are not necessarily strictly opposite.
  • the data stored in the database has associated classification data comprising at least one value in respective categories which have been predetermined by for example a panel of people or by some other method e.g. by seeking the opinion of a sample of a population.
  • the aim of the classification data is to provide values representing a subjective judgement of the content of the information or the subject of the information. A set of values thus forms a subjective profile for the information.
  • the information stored in the database can be anything which can be the subject of an opinion for example films, wines, music, literature, art, leisure activities such as holidays, restaurants and theatres.
  • the categories used for the classification data associated with the information can define any facet of human experience associated with the subject of the information or the information itself.
  • the use of a plurality of values for a plurality of categories allows a complex query to be built up to define a required profile for the information.
  • the values stored for the categories define a profile for each piece of information or record in the database and thus the required profile can be matched to the profiles of each of the sets of information or records in order to try to determine the best match or matches. The best match or matches can then be retrieved.
  • the associated classification data can additionally include at least one objective datum.
  • an objective datum is one which is not the subject of human opinion and which can be said to comprise a fact.
  • Such additional classification data can comprise conventional classification data and can be used in conjunction with the subjective values in order to provide profiles for the sets of information of records, and can be included in the input by a user to provide a more complete user profile for searching for and retrieving information from the database.
  • the subject of the information in the database can be purchased and means is provided for receiving an order from a user for the subject of the information e.g. a book, a film, a holiday, a restaurant booking, a theatre booking or a wine.
  • the subject of the information is itself information which is in electronically transmittable form e.g. an electronic book, electronic art, or a video signal.
  • the database is provided centrally and queries are received from a remote user, the retrieved information is transmitted to the user and the resulting order signal causes the transmission of information to fulfil the order.
  • the database need not however be provided centrally and instead may be provided locally.
  • a central order system then simply receives orders for requested data which has been found as a result of the search and retrieval of information locally by a user.
  • the ordered information e.g. video signal can then be downloaded to the user to fulfil the order.
  • the order signal may include information identifying a method of payment for the ordered information together with information identifying the ordered information.
  • the database and a user interface can be provided at a single location to provide a user with the retrieved information resulting from the user preference data.
  • the matching of the user preference data and the classification data in the database can be carried out to determine a value indicative of the relative fit of the classification data with the user preference data and the information is retrieved from the database on the basis of this value.
  • the value is determined as the sum of the squares of the difference between the classification data and the user preference data for all of the categories identified by the user preference data.
  • the value is determined by determining an angular difference between vectors defined by the values of the classification data and the desired values of the user preference data for all of the categories identified by the user preference data.
  • a plurality of sets of information or records having the closest fit with the user preference data can be retrieved from the database. These may be retrieved in order of the values indicating the relative fit of classification data associated with the information and the user preference data. Alternatively, only one set of information or a record which has the closest fit to the user preference data may be retrieved.
  • user preference data for each of the plurality of categories is compared with the classification data for respective categories individually to determine an individual relative fit for each category and information is retrieved from the database on the basis of each individual relative fit.
  • this embodiment not only provides information based on all of the categories i.e. using the whole of the profile entered by the user, but also information is provided for the relative fit for each category. This process may take place sequentially where the user preference data is entered by the user sequentially. Alternatively, where the user preference data is entered or transmitted as a complete profile, the information retrieved for each individual category can be calculated sequentially from the complete profile.
  • the relative fit of the classification data with the user preference data can be determined for all of the received user preference data as each is received. In this way a "running fit" is continuously calculated.
  • the complete profile may be transmitted as a whole to the comparing means, or the comparing means may wait until it is indicated that no more user preference data is going to be entered before determining the relative fit.
  • the apparatus can include a user interface which comprises means for selecting at least one of the categories, input means for inputting a value for the or each category, said value comprising a subjective rating for information to be retrieved; transmitting means for transmitting information identifying the or each selected category and the or each respective value as the user preference data to the receiving means; means for obtaining the information retrieved by the retrieving means; and display means for displaying the retrieved information.
  • a user is able to interact with the apparatus to select a category and enter a value in order to search for and retrieve information by forming a profile subjectively describing the required information.
  • the interface includes means for generating a graphical illustration related to the or each input value to aid the user's perception of the input values and selected categories.
  • the interface with the user is a graphical user interface.
  • the present invention can be embodied as a single apparatus or a network of apparatuses linked via communication means such as a telecommunications system, wide area network (WAN) or local area network (LAN).
  • the present invention can be carried out on an individual computer having a storage means such as a hard disc drive or CD ROM for storing the database.
  • the present invention can also be embodied by a network of such computers wherein the database is provided on one or more of the computers.
  • the present invention can thus not only be embodied in an apparatus but also in a computer program stored on a storage medium for controlling a computer.
  • the storage medium can comprise any conventional computer storage medium such as a floppy disc, hard disc, optical storage device such as a CD ROM, and memory devices such as non-volatile memory (Read Only Memory).
  • a database 4 is provided storing records.
  • Each record comprises a set of information and associated classification data.
  • Classification data includes at least one, and preferably a plurality of values.
  • the or each value comprises a predetermined subjective rating for the associated information in a category.
  • the classification data can also include objective data for the associated information.
  • a user interface 18 is provided and comprises an input device 9 for allowing a user to input user preference data which identifies at least one category of information to be searched for and a corresponding desired value for the or each category.
  • the user interface 18 also includes a display 8 for displaying information retrieved as a result of the input user preference data.
  • the input device 9 is connected to a comparison module 17 which receives classification data from the classification data retriever module 5 which in turn retrieves the classification data from the database 4.
  • the input user preference data and the retrieved classification data is compared in the comparison module 7 in order to determine the relative fit thereof.
  • the comparison module 7 controls an information retrieval module 6.
  • the information retrieval module 6 retrieves information from the database 4 under the control of the comparison module 7 and passes the retrieved information onto the display 8 in the user interface 18.
  • the user interface 18 may or may not be provided at the same location as the database, the classification data retrieval module 5, the information module 6 and the comparison module 7. If the user interface 18 is provided remotely, connection can be made by any suitable communication arrangement such as a telecommunications network, a WAN, or a LAN.
  • Fig. 2 shows a video on demand system comprising a central server station 1 which is connected to a plurality of user stations 2 via a high band width distribution system 3 such as a telephone network.
  • a number of video films are stored at the central server station 1.
  • the user inputs selection data representative of his preferences via a user station 2.
  • the selection data can then be transmitted to the central server station 1 via the high band width distribution system 3.
  • the central server station 1 receives selection data representative of a user's selection, this data is used to determine the films which correspond most closely to the user's selection as is described in detail later.
  • Data relating to the films which most closely match the user's selection data is then sent from the central server station 1 to the user 2 via the high band width distribution system 3.
  • a user can then review this data so as to be able to make an informed choice about which film he wishes to watch.
  • the user has decided he then inputs his final selection into the user station 2 which carries a signal representative of the choice to be sent to the central server station 1 via the high band width distribution system 3.
  • the central user station 1 is caused to transmit a video signal of the film corresponding to the user's final selection back to the user station 2 via the distribution system 3. The user can then watch the film of his choice.
  • Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing the structure of the central server station 1 shown in Fig. 2.
  • the central server station 1 comprises an interface 10 which can receive information from the high band width distribution system 3 and can also transmit information to the high band width distribution system 3.
  • the interface 10 stores a received signal so that it can be determined what type of signal has been received and how that signal should be processed.
  • the interface 10 is connected to a central processing unit 11 and a video bank 12 in which films and video clips are stored in correspondence with film and video clip numbers.
  • the central processing unit 11 is also connected to the video bank 12, a random access memory 13, a database 14, a monitor 15, and a keyboard 16 and a read only memory 17.
  • a control program is stored in the read only memory 17.
  • the results of calculations by the central processing unit 11 are stored in the random access memory 13.
  • the central processing unit 11 can also send a signal to the video bank 12 to instruct the video bank 12 to send a video signal to user station via the interface 10 and the high band width distribution system 3.
  • Fig. 4 is a block diagram of data within the database 14. For every video film stored in the video bank 12 there is an entry in the database 14. These entries consist of the name of the film to which they relate, a film number corresponding to a video stored in the video bank 12, values for a number of N criteria on which the film has been assessed, a text record of a review of the film and a video clip number associated with a video clip stored in the video bank 12.
  • the values of the N criteria associated with a film are representative of subjective assessments of the content of that film according to different criteria.
  • the different criteria are each a range of possible subjective assessments of a film which range between two mutually exclusive, but not necessarily opposing extremes.
  • the value of the criteria associated with a film is representative of relative subjective assessment of the film to those two extremes.
  • Table 1 below is an example of some of the criteria on which films may be assessed and example values for those criteria in relation to two films. In this example the films have been assessed where 1 indicates the first extreme of the criteria and 10 indicates the opposite extreme.
  • Criterion (Category) The graduate Jaws Emotional Profile (1) Light - Heavy 6 6 (2) Loving - Hateful 4 5 (3) Violent - Gentle 5 2 (4) Happy - Sad 3 5 (5) Sexy - Non sexy 7 5 (6) Fearful - Comfortable 7 2 (7) Funny - Serious 3 8 (8) Surprising - Methodical 5 3 (9) Horrifying - Beautiful 8 2 (10) Inspirational - Bleak 3 4 Content Profile (11) Historical - Futuristic 5 5 (12) Fast paced - Slow paced 4 3 (13) Educational - Entertaining 7 6 (14) Weird - Conventional 4 6 (15) Escapist - Challenging 6 6 (16) Short - Long 5 5 (17) Intellectual - Easy Viewing 4 8
  • Fig. 5 is a block diagram of programs stored within the read only memory 17 of the central user station 1.
  • the programs stored in the read only memory 17 consist of a data input program 170, an edit database program 171, a decode input program 172, a calculate preferences program 173 and a show video program 174.
  • the data input program 170 controls the input of data into the database 14.
  • the data input program 170 enables data to be input by a user via the keyboard 16.
  • the input data is displayed on the monitor 15. When the required data has been input, this is then stored in the database 14.
  • the edit database program 171 enables a user to edit data stored in the database 14 to amend the data stored in relation to a particular film.
  • the decode input program 172 causes the central processing unit 11 of the central user station 1 to determine the content of a signal received from the high bandwidth distribution system 3 by the interface 10. When the content of a signal received has been determined, the decode input program 172 then invokes either the calculate preferences program 173 or the show video program 174 depending on the type of data which has been received so that the data can be processed appropriately.
  • the calculate preferences program 173 enables data in the database 14 to be ranked in accordance to received user preference data as will be described later.
  • the show video program 174 causes the CPU 11 to instruct the video bank 12 to send a video signal to a user station 2 as will be described in greater detail later.
  • Fig. 6 is a block diagram of a user station 2 of Fig. 2.
  • the user station comprises a set top box 20, a television set 21 and a joystick 22.
  • the set top box 20 comprises an interface 23 which connects a central processing unit 24 to the high speed bandwidth distribution system 3.
  • the central processing unit 24 is further connected to a read only memory 25 in which programs are stored and a random access memory 26 for storing the results of calculations made by the central processing unit 24.
  • the central processing unit 24 is also connected to the joystick 22 and the television set 21.
  • the interface 23 receives data signals from the high band width distribution system 3 and transfers the signals to the central processing unit 24 which processes them in accordance with the programs stored in the read only memory 25.
  • the central processing unit 24 also receives signals from the joystick 20 indicating the position of the joystick 20 and whether the joystick button has been depressed.
  • the central processing unit 24 can also generate signals which are sent to the television set 21 causing information to be displayed on the television screen.
  • Fig. 7 is a memory map of the read only memory 25 of Fig. 5. This shows the modules of the programs stored in the read only memory 25.
  • the programs stored consist of a program 250 for displaying a selection of criteria from which a user can make a selection on the television screen 21, a program 251 for detecting the movement of the joystick 22, a program 252 for displaying a slider on the television 21, a program 253 for displaying a selection of suggested films on the screen of the television set 21, a program 254 for controlling the sending of information stored in the random access memory 26 via the interface to a central user station 1, a program 255 for displaying video and audio information received via the interface 23 on the television set 21, a program for displaying a review received by the interface 23 on the television screen 21, and a program 257 for controlling the interaction of the above mentioned programs.
  • the flow of control of the control program 257 is illustrated in the flow diagram shown in Fig. 8.
  • the control program 257 invokes the display criteria program 250 to display a selection of criteria on the screen of the television set 21 (S1).
  • the screen display which is caused to appear on the television screen is illustrated in Fig. 9.
  • the menu on the screen consists of a list of a selection of extremes of different criteria by which a film in the video bank 12 has been ranked in the database 14 of the user station 1.
  • the options of MORE and DISPLAY SUGGESTIONS One of the options in the menu is highlighted.
  • control passes to the detect joystick movement program 251. If the joystick is detected to be moved up or down, the screen display is then updated with the highlighter bar moving up when the joystick is moved forward and the highlighter bar being moved downwards when the joystick is pulled backward.
  • the control program 251 determines which of the options appearing on the screen is currently highlighted. If the MORE option is currently highlighted (S2) this causes a different selection of criteria to be chosen to be displayed on the screen (S3) and then this different selection is displayed (S1) by the display criteria program 250. In this way, a manageable number of criteria appear on the screen at any one time allowing the film to be classified in many different ways without the need to have all these different criteria displayed at once.
  • Fig. 10 the slider which is displayed when the fast pace/slow pace criteria is selected is shown.
  • the joystick When the joystick is moved to the left the slider moves towards the fast pace end of the display, when the joystick is moved to the right the slider moves to the slow pace end of the display. In this way, a desired pace of the film can be set.
  • the slider has been positioned to indicate the desired pace of the film, this can be confirmed by depressing the joystick button. If this is detected a numerical value for the displayed criteria corresponding to the slider position is then stored in the random access memory 26 and the display is replaced by the selection of the criteria menu (S1).
  • the user can input his preferred values for a number of different criteria.
  • a selection of suggestions based upon those criteria can be displayed by highlighting the display suggestions option on the menu and then depressing the joystick button.
  • the control passes to the display suggestions program 253. This causes the CPU to transfer the numerical values of previously selected criteria stored in the random access memory 26 to the central server station 1 via the interface 23 and the high band width distribution system 3.
  • this data is received by the interface 10 of the central server station 1 the data is then stored in the random access memory 13 of the central server so that the inputted data can be compared with criteria values stored in the database 14 and suitable suggestions can then be made.
  • the calculate preferences program 173 then causes the CPU 11 to calculate the square of the difference between the values of criteria stored in the random access memory 13 and the value of that criterion as stored in the database against each film 14. The sum of all these values is then determined for a particular film over all the criteria for which a user has set to a preferred value. Mathematically this can be represented by equation: where
  • the calculated value for each film is then stored in the random access memory together with the film number of the film to which it relates. This calculated value is an indication of how closely the user preferred criteria values correspond to the criteria values assigned to a particular film.
  • the films which have been classified in the database 14 which most closely match the selected criterion values, will have the lowest numbers associated with them.
  • the calculate preferences program 173 then causes the entries in the database to be ranked by their calculated values.
  • the database entries for the most closely matched films are then transferred to the user station 2 via the high band width distribution system 3.
  • the data transferred to the user station 2 is stored in the Random Access Memory 26 so that the name of the film, associated film number, review details and video clip number for the selected films are available for use by the user station. This data is stored together with the calculated value for the film based upon the current set user preferences.
  • Control is then passed to the display suggestions program 253 which causes a suggestions menu to be displayed on the screen as is illustrated in Fig. 11.
  • the menu displayed lists a number of film names, in this case three, which correspond to the database entries having the lowest calculated values and are hence the films which most closely match the user's preferred input values.
  • the different films can be selected by moving a joystick up or down which is detected by the joystick movement program 251 which causes a highlighter bar. to move on the screen.
  • the display suggestion program also causes a number of option buttons to be displayed at the bottom of the screen. These are showing VIDEO CLIP for showing a video clip from a film, REVIEW for requesting the display of a review of a film, MORE FILMS for requesting more films, AMEND CHOICES for amending the present criteria selections and SHOW FILM to request that a selected film be shown.
  • the various options can be selected by moving the joystick from side to side. When the desired option is highlighted, it can be selected by pressing the joystick button.
  • VIDEO CLIP button is highlighted when the joystick movement program 251 detects that the joystick button has been depressed, this causes the CPU 24 to retrieve the video clip number associated with the current highlighted film from RAM 26. This video clip number is then transferred from the user station to the central server station 1 via the interface 23 and the high bandwidth distribution system 3. When this data is received by the interface 10 it is passed on to the CPU 11.
  • the received signal is decoded in accordance with the decode input program 172 stored in the read only memory 17, when the type of signal is determined the show video program 174 is invoked which causes a control signal to be sent to the video bank 12.
  • the show video program 174 causes an instruction to be sent to the video bank 12 to send a video signal corresponding to the received video clip number to be sent to the user station 2 by the interface 10 and the high band width distribution system 13.
  • the video clip is displayed as video information on the television screen 21.
  • the MORE FILMS button is highlighted when the joystick movement detection program 251 detects that the joystick button is pressed, this causes the CPU to retrieve the calculated values for the films currently displayed from the RAM 26. The greatest of these values is then determined. This is then used so that a new selection of films whose selection numbers are the next greatest to those presently displayed can be made from the data stored in RAM 26. In this way, a greater number of films can be considered by a user than can be displayed on the television screen at any one time.
  • the AMEND CHOICES button is highlighted when the joystick movement program 251 detects that the joystick button is pressed, this causes the flow control to pass to the display criteria program 250 which displays the selection criteria on the screen so that a user can amend the current values of the selection criteria and obtain a different selection of film choices.
  • the SHOW FILM button is highlighted when the joystick movement program detects that the joystick button is pressed, this causes control to pass to the display video/audio program 255.
  • the CPU 24 retrieves the film number associated with the current highlighted film from RAM 26.
  • a signal is then sent by the CPU 24 together with the film number to the central server station 1 via the high band width distribution system 3.
  • the signal is processed by the CPU 11 in accordance with the decode input program 172 stored in the read only memory 17.
  • the show video program 174 causes an instruction to be sent to the video bank 12 to send a video signal corresponding to the received film number to be sent via the high bandwidth distribution system 3 to the set top box 2 so that the film corresponding to the film number is displayed on the television 21.
  • the embodiment can also be used for the selection of any type of information the subject of which is in electronic form and which can be assessed in a subjective manner where it is possible to assign a value representative of a subjective assessment of the content of the information in a range between two mutually exclusive extreme subjective assessments.
  • the embodiment is equally applicable to music and books or literature in general since these can be transmitted to a user electronically.
  • Table 2 below gives examples of profiles for music and Table 3 below gives examples of profiles for books.
  • the present invention could be used as a means of identifying information and providing a means by which the item embodying the information could be obtained.
  • the system could be used to provide a user with titles of books which match input user preference data. In such a system there would be no need to have a store of information to be retrieved such as the video bank 12 as shown in Fig. 3.
  • the system could also provide means by which the user station 2 could be used to send a signal to the central server station 1 via the high band width distribution system 3 so that a user could order the book.
  • a book could then be dispatched using a conventional method.
  • Fig. 13 shows a further embodiment of the present invention applied to a computer used for ordering wine from a supplier.
  • the system comprises a keyboard 100, a pointing device 101 such as a mouse, joystick or pen, a CTU 102, ROM 103, RAM 104, a stored database 105, a monitor 106 and an interface 107.
  • the CPU 102 is arranged to process signals received from the keyboard 100 and the joystick 101 in accordance with a program stored in the ROM 103. As a result of processing, variables are stored in the RAM 104.
  • the CPU can also retrieve information from the database 105. As a result of the processing, information is displayed on the monitor 106.
  • a signal can be generated by the CPU 102 to send an order to a supplier via the interface 107.
  • Fig. 14 is an example of a screen display with the present invention applied to an apparatus for ordering wine.
  • the CPU 102 causes a screen display such as the one shown in Fig. 13 to be displayed on the monitor 106.
  • On the left-hand side of the screen display there are shown a number of categories 500 and 501 by which wines may be classified. A user can choose to make a selection within a category by moving the pointing device 101 or making key strokes on the keyboard 100.
  • the category shown at the top of the column on the left-hand side of the screen display shown in Fig. 14 500 are categories in which an objective assessment of the wine can be made.
  • each of the entries to each of the different wines stored in the database 105 is assessed according to each of these categories. These assessments are then stored together with the name of the wine and information about the wine in the database 105.
  • a user When a user wishes to make a selection within a category, he first moves the pointing device 101 to move a pointer to select one of the categories 500 and 501. This is detected by the CPU 102 which causes the category to be highlighted and a slider 502, a morph icon 503, and a selection menu 504 to appear on the monitor 106.
  • the slider can be moved to the left or to the right using the pointing device 101.
  • the morph icon 503 changes in an appropriate manner.
  • the morph icon for the white/red category might be in the form of a wine glass which changes colour as a selection between white, rose and red wine was made.
  • the value of the present selection is stored in RAM 104.
  • the CPU 102 compares the value of the present selection with the previous assessments of wines stored in the database 105. On the basis of this comparison, the wines which most closely match the user's selection in that category are then displayed in the selection menu 504. In this way, a user can determine those wines which most closely match his indicated preferences in any particular category. If the user wishes to obtain further information on a particular wine, he can move the pointing device 101 to the selection menu 504 which causes an entry to be highlighted within the selection menu 504 and for further information to be displayed in an additional information window 505 on the right hand side of the screen.
  • the user can therefore cause a number of sliders to appear on the screen and indicate a preferred value for more than one category.
  • a slider 502 For each of the categories selected, a slider 502, a morph icon 503 and an information window 504 will be caused to appear on the monitor 106 by the CPU.
  • the menu 507 is caused to appear by the CPU 102 on the monitor 106 where the user can make his selection by pointing at an appropriate selection using the pointing device 101.
  • the user can move the pointer to a FIND icon 508 which causes the CPU 102 to search the database in the manner previously described for the earlier embodiment on the basis of a combination of all the selections made.
  • the wines which most closely match the combination of all the selections within the categories are then displayed in a separate menu 509.
  • a user can cause entries within the menu 509 to be highlighted so that further information is displayed in the information window 505.
  • he can move the pointer to an order icon 510.
  • the CPU 102 detects that the order icon is selected, this causes a signal to be sent via the interface 10 to send an order to a wine supplier via a high band width distribution system to place an order for the wine which is currently highlighted in either the selection menu 504 or the menu 509.
  • the present invention can be embodied as a central database with one or more remote user interfaces, or a system a single location including both the user interface and the database.
  • the present invention can be applied to the identification and retrieval of information of any form stored in a database.
  • a user can search for information without having to exactly identify a classification to which the information must belong.
  • An aspect of the present invention allows for information which closely corresponds with the input user preference data to be retrieved. Thus it is possible to guarantee that information will be retrieved and this information will be the best fit to the information desired by the user.
  • the information retrieved can be retrieved and displayed as a single piece of information which is the best fit or as seen in Fig. 14 as a list of a number of sets of information which best fits the query. These can be displayed in order of best fit to the query.
  • any suitable function which relates to these two values could be used.
  • a formula in which different weight was given to a criteria on the basis of the order in which selections of criteria were made could be used, in which case a scaling factor in accordance with the order in which the criteria selected would be applied to the squares of differences between stored criteria values and user preference criteria values when these squares of differences are summed together.
  • An alternative method of determining the relative fit of the classification data and the user preference data is to consider the values of the classification data and the desired values of the user preference data as two N dimensional vectors where N is an integer representing the number of categories for the received user preference data. Using such vectors the relative fit can be determined simply by determining which of the vectors for the classification data has the closest angle to the vector for the user preference data.
  • any other suitable form of interface could be used such as pull down menus or a 3-D graphical interface.
  • the present invention can thus be embodied as a computer program stored on a computer readable storage medium such as a floppy disc, hard disc, CD ROM or read only memory (ROM) or carried on a transient carrier medium such as an electronic, optical or microwave signal carrying the computer code.
  • a computer readable storage medium such as a floppy disc, hard disc, CD ROM or read only memory (ROM)
  • ROM read only memory

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Databases & Information Systems (AREA)
  • Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Data Mining & Analysis (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Library & Information Science (AREA)
  • Mathematical Physics (AREA)
  • Computational Linguistics (AREA)
  • Information Retrieval, Db Structures And Fs Structures Therefor (AREA)
EP01300249A 2000-01-14 2001-01-12 Informationswiederauffindungssystem Withdrawn EP1120721A3 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

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GB0000923 2000-01-14
GB0000923A GB2365152A (en) 2000-01-14 2000-01-14 Information retrieval system

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EP1120721A2 true EP1120721A2 (de) 2001-08-01
EP1120721A3 EP1120721A3 (de) 2003-09-03

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CN109951512A (zh) * 2019-01-09 2019-06-28 平安科技（深圳）有限公司 用户偏好确定方法、系统、电子设备及存储介质
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GB0000923D0 (en) 2000-03-08
GB2365152A (en) 2002-02-13
US20020013780A1 (en) 2002-01-31
EP1120721A3 (de) 2003-09-03

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